Whip-actuating device.



G. L. RAGUSE. WHIP AGTUATING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED MAY 19, 1913.

Patented Apr. 28, 1914.

snvento'r Attorneys UNITED STATE? PATENT OFFICE.

GUS'IAF L. RAGUSE, OF YORK, NORTH DAKOTA.

WHIP-ACTUATING DEVICE.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GUSTAF L. RAeUsn, a. citizen of the United States, residing at York, in the county of Benson and State of North Dakota, have invented a new and useful WVhip-Actuating Device, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in whip actuating devices and more particularly to a device to be used in connection with two horse teams.

An object of the present invention is to provide a. whip actuating device which can be used with equal facility with horses of difierent heights.

A further object is to provide a device of this character in which there are two Whip holders with two tension springs secured to each, the whipping operation being accomplished by retracting one of the holders and suddenly releasing the same.

lVith th foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed,it beingunderstood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, can be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings accompanying this specification and forming a part thereof the preferable form of my invention is illustrated, in which Figure l is a side view in elevation of my improved device secured to the beam or pole of a wagon or vehicle. Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is a front view in elevation.

Referring to the drawings in which similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, at is the beam or wagon pole to which my improved whip actuating device is secured.

A base plate 5 is rigidly secured to the beam 4 by the clamp 6 it being noted however, that the said base plate may be directly bolted or otherwise rigidly secured to the beam i. The front portion of the base plate is offset as at- 7 so that the front portion is raised above the general level of the rear portion. The forward end is bent in the form of a hook as at 8 and between the lower portion 9 and the overhanging portion 10 extends the pivotal bolt 11. The offset- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 19, 1913.

Patented Apr. 28, 1914;.

Serial No. 768,637.

ting of the forward portion 9- of the base plate performs the useful function that with the hook as illustrated in full lines the same is raised above the general level of the rear portion of the base plate and is adapted to be so used in connection with large horses or draft animals and by rotating the said hook through 180 degrees about a longitudinal axis into the position substantially as illustrated in dotted lines, the whip actuating device is then brought into position for use in connection with smaller draft animals, the offset-ting as at 7 increasing the vertical distance through which the hook moves when so rotated.

Pivotally secured to the bolt 11 are the whip holders 12 and 13 the same normally extending transversely of the base plate and are adapted to receive the handles of whips therein. The pivotal connection between the whip holders 12 and 13 which are cylindrical in outline, is spaced a distance from the free ends thereof so that the helical tension springs 14 which are secured thereto are adapted to hold the same against rotation in either direction, it being pointed out in this connection that the springs 14 which are secured to suitable hooks 15 of the base plate coact with each whip holder at equal distances from and upon each side of the pivotal connection or support therefor.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that when one of the whip holders is retracted by means of a suitable flexible element which extends to the whip holder, and then released the same will be violently rotated to bring the whip which is secured thereto into violent contact with the draft animal and the second tensional spring will prevent an excessive rotation of the whip holder and will normally hold the same at right angles to the base plate as illustrated in Fig. 2.

The flexible elements, 16, 17 pass through guide eyelets 18 which are positioned upon the sides of the beam 4. The flexible elements 16 and 17 extend rearwardly to some convenient place for the ready grasping and manipulating thereof, it being noted that the whip actuating device as herein described is to be used in those instances where it is impossible or impractical for the operator to reach the draft animals with a whip and therefore must of necessity resort for each whip holder it insures that the whip holder Will. normally be held in proper position and that an excessive rotation will be successfully taken up by the springs. The springs are secured to the cylindrical holders by suitable eyelet bolts 19 as illustrated. The whip holders are adapted to receive therein and rigidly support the handle of the whip which when moved by the moving of the whip holder is brought into violent contact with the side or flank of the draft animal with the obtaining of the desired result. The offsetting and manner in which the base plate is formed allows a range of adjustment of the whip actuating device for draft animals of clifferent sizes and will be of importance when the vehicle or implement to which the de vice is secured is to he used with different sized draft animals.

Having thus fully described the invention, what I claim to be new and original with me is 1. In a whip actuating device, the combination of a base plate, the front portion thereof offset therefrom above the general level thereof, the front end of said offset portion bent hook-shape and providing an overhanging portion, a pivot extending between the said overhanging portion and the offset portion, a whip holder rotatably secured to the said pivot and adapted to move in a horizontal plane, resilient tensional springs secured to the said whip holder upon opposite sides of the said pivotal connection thereof, said whip holder adapted to receive the handle of a whip therein, means for se- 1 curing said base plate to a supporting structure, and a flexible element secured to the whip holding end of the whip holder for the rotating of the same in one direction, said tensional springs adapted to rotate the whip holder violently in the opposite direc tion upon the releasing of the said flexible element.

2. In a whip actuating device, the combination of a base plate, a forward portion oflset therefrom above the general level thereof, the front end of said offset portion bent hook-shape and providing an overhanging portion, a bolt extending between the overhanging portion and the said offset por tion, whip holders pivotally secured to the said bolt intermediate their ends, resili ent tensional springs secured to the said whip holders upon opposite sides of the said pivotal connection, said whip holders cylindrical in form and adapted to receive handles of whips therein, means for securing the said base plate to a supporting strncture, and flexible elements secured to the whip holding end of the whip holders for the rotz'iting of the samein one direction, the said tensional springs adapted to rotate the whip holders violently in the opposite direction upon the releasing of the said flex ible elements.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereunto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

GUSTAF L. RAGUS'E. Witnesses:

J. E. MCCARTHY, ALBERT SALBERG.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

